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In a letter written to the council, the group states: “The application site is unspoilt grazing land in the Green Belt and there are no exceptional circumstances giving rise to its removal.

“Further there are no planning reasons to grant consent for housing development as proposed in the application.”

According to the council’s local plan, officers want to create new green space around the hamlet – and GOCA argues these developments would contradict this aim.

An overview of the land in Rosedale Park

While the site is in the greenbelt, Broxbourne Council’s local plan has it earmarked to lose this status, which would make the area eligible for development.

The council has identified the entire site of Rosedale Park as a “key piece of strategic green infrastructure”.

The local plan states: “Most of the land is under option to Crest Nicholson and Commercial Estates Group and the two companies have been working with the council to produce a comprehensive master plan for Rosedale Park.

“That masterplan now forms the basis of planning applications that will complete the masterplan.

“South of Andrews Lane and east of Burton Lane the council is seeking to deliver a key piece of strategic green infrastructure (the 'St James' Green Link') which will provide a pedestrian connection through a green corridor planted with trees and including areas of informal open space.

“It is anticipated that Rosedale Park will be developed over an eight-year period between 2018 and 2026.”